Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[mcwheelee]

You should be able to pick up your park tickets early...I've done it a few times, but I haven't since Magic Bands were introduced, so I'm not sure if the rules have changed! So basically, I'm no help with this question, but I know you used to be able to pick up tickets before your package started!

I was there in Nov. during the Magic Band test phase and we were able to pick our tickets up 2 days early. We had a little issue at AK and had to go to guest services. It took about 15 min. but they gave us a couple of fast passes for our inconvenience.

 

[bnstucker]

You should be able to pick up your park tickets early...I've done it a few times, but I haven't since Magic Bands were introduced, so I'm not sure if the rules have changed!

So basically, I'm no help with this question, but I know you used to be able to pick up tickets before your package started!

I think the rules have changed since magic bands. I've heard you can start tickets and also not until the package check in date from CM.

 

[evcollins]

I just cancelled a 330 or 345 for MM on 9/16, you can try for it

Thanks! Just getting in and catching up. We are a party of nine. I did call this afternoon and was told the only availability was for 3:00. Not an ideal time at all for us. We're planning QS at BOG for lunch around 11:00ish, so after 5:00 would be ideal for dinner.

She did say that there were lunch times available. She also told me that 3:00 was the last booking they did for dinner because they close the window of times to allow enough time to get to the location, eat and arrive at F! 45 minutes before the show. Is this true? There was an option for 6:00 pm on the website, but it wasn't available. I told her I had the F! package for H&V at 6:00pm and she told me that's because it was closer to the F! location. Really??

Now, what are your thoughts...
Should I book just the restaurant? They have MM available for 6ish timeframe w/o the F! package.

Should I stay with H&V? My hesitation...we don't want two buffet dinners in a row. The next evening we have 1900 Park Fare booked.

Oh, decisions, decisions to make while I sit and wait for FD!

 

[BelleMarie]

Thanks! Just getting in and catching up. We are a party of nine. I did call this afternoon and was told the only availability was for 3:00. Not an ideal time at all for us. We're planning QS at BOG for lunch around 11:00ish, so after 5:00 would be ideal for dinner.

She did say that there were lunch times available. She also told me that 3:00 was the last booking they did for dinner because they close the window of times to allow enough time to get to the location, eat and arrive at F! 45 minutes before the show. Is this true? There was an option for 6:00 pm on the website, but it wasn't available. I told her I had the F! package for H&V at 6:00pm and she told me that's because it was closer to the F! location. Really??

Now, what are your thoughts...
Should I book just the restaurant? They have MM available for 6ish timeframe w/o the F! package.

Should I stay with H&V? My hesitation...we don't want two buffet dinners in a row. The next evening we have 1900 Park Fare booked.

Oh, decisions, decisions to make while I sit and wait for FD!

That's odd. I have a 4:50 F! package on 9/14 at MM.

 

[donp]

Thanks! Just getting in and catching up. We are a party of nine. I did call this afternoon and was told the only availability was for 3:00. Not an ideal time at all for us. We're planning QS at BOG for lunch around 11:00ish, so after 5:00 would be ideal for dinner.

She did say that there were lunch times available. She also told me that 3:00 was the last booking they did for dinner because they close the window of times to allow enough time to get to the location, eat and arrive at F! 45 minutes before the show. Is this true? There was an option for 6:00 pm on the website, but it wasn't available. I told her I had the F! package for H&V at 6:00pm and she told me that's because it was closer to the F! location. Really??

Now, what are your thoughts...
Should I book just the restaurant? They have MM available for 6ish timeframe w/o the F! package.

Should I stay with H&V? My hesitation...we don't want two buffet dinners in a row. The next evening we have 1900 Park Fare booked.

Oh, decisions, decisions to make while I sit and wait for FD!

I was disappointed in the past with doing the MM/Fantasmic package deal. The seats that time that were guaranteed, were not that great, and I felt like we ate too early. I think that Fantasmic is around 8:30 that time of year?? 6 might be pushing it, but I personally would not waste my time with the several hour combo thing. We did do Fast Pass Plus to Fantasmic last September and had GREAT seats, but someone told me that they might not be doing that anymore. (also, we did not like the food or service at MM). One man's opinion . . .

 

[ChloeChipper]

So IF free dining is offered to Disney Visa people, do you just call Disney and ask for the Disney visa deal? What if you dont get an email for it? Can you use your visa just for the deposit and pay the rest another way?

 

[donp]

So IF free dining is offered to Disney Visa people, do you just call Disney and ask for the Disney visa deal? What if you dont get an email for it? Can you use your visa just for the deposit and pay the rest another way?

E-mail or not, the offer is yours if you have a Disney Visa. Those emails come out hours after the offer is released at 7AM in the morning. The $200 deposit from the card just allows you to get in early on the deal. You can pay for the remainder later on a different card, etc.

 

[andeesings]

I've found, with my husband and I, that a room only discount is better when staying at the deluxes, and free dining is better when staying at a moderate. It might be different for families, but for the 2 of us, that's what seems to work!

Is that because you generally don't add dining? My dad LOVES the deluxe plan (he likes eating at signatures) but to pay

 

[andeesings]

Is that because you generally don't add dining? My dad LOVES the deluxe plan (he likes eating at signatures) but to pay

(Hit send too early and the app is so weird with that!!!)

Anyway- to PAY for DxDP seems like madness, but to upgrade to it from the regular DDP wasn't terrible (used to be GREAT but not so much even). Still, if you enjoy appetizers and have a breakfast and a signature dinner it's good.

I'm still concerned it won't be enough saving over a RO AP discount and adding dining for 2 ppl. What do you guys think?? I know I keep asking but nobody is answering! :-/ And you guys seem way more math savvy than me.

I'm just concerned with getting everyone the best deal possible, it's so stressful! You need a PhD to plan a Disney vacation now with the dining reservations, FP+ reservations, discounts...

 

[tinker&belle]

Any new clues on the end date? I am playing around with our dates. We we arriving Oct 5. Arriving on Oct 2 would be ok; we would just lose BOG but everything else would be pretty stable. Could go as early as Oct 1 with some finagling.... Is this likely to be something to be stressing over?

 

[AnCmommy]

I'm thinking of going 11/13-11/21. Will that likely be too late for free dining?

 

[smitch425]

I'm thinking of going 11/13-11/21. Will that likely be too late for free dining?

Those dates were covered in the fall offer last year. The fall offer should come out in late July/early Aug.

 

[JamieLM]

When FD comes out, if anyone is dropping an ADR at BOG on Sept 29, can you please let me know. Thought I would ask, just in case! thank you.

 

[ngress]

Black, are you thinking FD will open on May 1st for Visa card holders or general public? What's the probability of FD opening tomorrow for visa members? Just trying to plan to my day tomorrow. Thanks much.

 

[ftomasze]

I know that this is frowned upon but I already have reservations for December. I am a Disney Visa cardholder. I have made about $2000 is payments (all in the form of Disney gift cards with the exception of 1 CC payment that wasn't the Disney Visa). Question is when FD is released will I have to completely rebook to get the DV offer or can I just apply a payment with my DV?

 

[smitch425]

I know that this is frowned upon but I already have reservations for December. I am a Disney Visa cardholder. I have made about $2000 is payments (all in the form of Disney gift cards with the exception of 1 CC payment that wasn't the Disney Visa). Question is when FD is released will I have to completely rebook to get the DV offer or can I just apply a payment with my DV?

You would just need to make a $200 payment with the DV. Make sure you keep all of those gift cards in case you have to cancel. They will refund the money back to the original form of payment, so do not throw them away.

 

[totebagg]

Black, are you thinking FD will open on May 1st for Visa card holders or general public? What's the probability of FD opening tomorrow for visa members? Just trying to plan to my day tomorrow. Thanks much.

Joe updated the first post with this info "The promo will likely be released to Disney Visa holders on Thursday, May 1st and to the public on Monday, May 5".

 

[smitch425]

Black, are you thinking FD will open on May 1st for Visa card holders or general public? What's the probability of FD opening tomorrow for visa members? Just trying to plan to my day tomorrow. Thanks much.

The general consensus is that May 1 will be the Visa date, but I'm sure people will call tomorrow, just in case. Someone will likely report here shortly after 7am.

 

[ngress]

Joe updated the first post with this info "The promo will likely be released to Disney Visa holders on Thursday, May 1st and to the public on Monday, May 5".

Thanks... Sorry I missed his update.

 

[totebagg]

Thanks... Sorry I missed his update.

No problem. I just happen to see it there and wanted to share!